Max is a shit, but he's looking like a generational talent. He's always been the best chance of RB getting a championship, and still is. I don't see anybody in their farm system that's even close to Max's level (and he's already burned through 2 of them). Matching him up with a comparable driver doesn't seem to have worked that well either (Danny knew the time, and Sergio just found out). Finding/making another Max is a tall order. Max is one of the top 3 drivers in the field, and the third one ain't Lando. Hell, I'm not even sure Lando is better than Charles, honestly. So replacing Max isn't going to get them another chip for a few seasons at best. So the team, at least, need Max.

As far as Horner goes? He seems much more in tune with Max's attitude and openly encouraging it. They're two peas in a pod. As team principal, that is his job, but Max has never garnered any of the criticism Horner has for his competitors OR his teammates. I think he's all in with Max and will go down with the ship with him, unless Max tries to toss him under a bus OR Max starts to slow down on track, and neither seem likely at the moment.

So Horner and RB will enjoy the war spoils and ignore, deflect or support anything else Max does. Not reigning him in is definitely going to bite the team in the ass, and probably sooner rather than later. But it won't be because they sacked Max